Samuel 19:18-24

So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? (KJV)

This flight of David from Saul was the beginning of his wilderness journey that would test David’s faith in God. From this point on David will be an enemy of the state as he will be hunted down by Saul and his servants. David’s first stop in this journey was to see Samuel. Samuel , an old man at this time, was still respected as a man of God by the nation of Israel. David related to Samuel all that Saul had done to him during this meeting. After this David and Samuel lived at Naioth, which was probably Samuel’s school for training prophets. David was probably refreshed by the daily conversations with Samuel at this time. Just the history that Samuel could have shared with David during his seventy plus years could have been a great inspiration to David. He had witness the nation on Israel move from twevle tribes to a kingdom during hs life time. . I would like to compare this time that David spent with Samuel to the six years I spent at Tennessee Temple University studying under some of the best Bible teachers at that time.

We are not told how long David spent here with Samuel; however, Saul was told that David was abiding there with Samuel. All three groups of messengers that Saul sent there to take David started to prophesying as soon as they came in the presence of Samuel and the prophets. Finally, Saul himself went after David and he started prophesying and the Spirit of God came upon him. Here Saul under the control of the Spirit of God prophesied and stripped off all his clothes and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? Saul in his pursue of David went to the spiritual center of Israel at that time and faced Samuel the man of God whom he had broken off all relationship with after Samuel had confronted Saul for his disobedience. However, there was no change in Saul as future events will show his true character.

I Samuel 19:8-18

And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him .And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped .And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. (KJV)

After Saul permitted David to return to his court war with the Philistines broke out again. It was again David and his men that defeated the Philistines and gave the victory to Saul. However, the evil spirit within Saul could not handle the praise that David was receiving and again tried to take his life. One of the reasons I started my study of the psalms twenty years ago was to try to understand how a wonderful relationship of the past could turn into a bitter fight between two parties. From my journey through the psalms I decided to follow David’s path. As Saul tried to kill David, David chose to flee from Saul instead of fighting and defending himself. David from this point on in his life will be running from Saul until Saul’s death.

This running from Saul meant separation from the ones that love David, which included two of Saul’s children ,Michal and Jonathan. We see Michal helping David escape from her father in this chapter, however the next time that Michal appears in the scriptures is when Saul his daughter to Phalti the son of Laish. Later after the death of Saul she was returned to David as part of the league that Abner made the other tribes of Israel (David was just the King of Judah at this time) to make him their King. The only other two references to Michal was her despising of David as he brought the ark to Jerusalem and the turning over the five sons of Adriel to the Gibeonites for the sins of Saul because he slew the Gibeonites. The reference in II Samuel 21:8 probably refers to Michal helping raising the children of her sister Merah since marry to Adriel the Meholathite (I Samuel 18:19). These two references shows how much David’s and Michal’s relationship in the later part of their life was strained

However, Jonathan’s love for David continue until Jonathan’s death. The last meeting between them before Jonathan’s death was at Horesh in the desert of Ziph while Saul was hunting David to take his life. Jonathan comfort David and told him that he would be king over Israel. Jonathan and David renew their covenant before the Lord to protect each other and their family. Jonathan went home after and David remained at Horesh.

The future relationships from love ones because of a bitter separation can cause complications over time. Michal relationship took a new and different path after David was force to leave Saul’s presence; however because of Jonathan’s love for David he continue to have fellowship with him. There is one relationship that should never be abandon and that is our daily relationship with the Lord. We need to be careful and not allow bitter disputes with other effect our relationship with the Lord. David and Jonathan gives us two examples of how to deal with a bitter relationship. David had to either run from Saul or fight. He chose to run. Jonathan had to either support his father Saul or protect David. He chose to protect David, which probably created a very rough relationship between him and his father. The bitterness of Saul’s hatred for David help develop both David and Jonathan spiritual life by seeking the right path to address this bitterness.

I Samuel 19:1-7

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain.And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. (KJV)

Saul’s true reason for giving his daughter Michal to David was his desire that David will be killed battling the Philistines. However, this did not happen even when David rewarded Saul with double the price that he requested. Soon after David’s marriage to Michal we see that Saul decided that he would get his own servants as well as his son to kill David. A study of Saul’s life gives us an example of a self-center man that is characterized by bitterness. In Hebrews 12:14,15 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” is a warning to all to follow peace with all men. Saul’s bitterness against David was so great that even as his new son-in-law he wanted him kill.

Here we see Jonathan stepping up as one that understood the importance of following peace with all men. Jonathan talked his father out of shedding the innocent blood of David’s life. Jonathan’s reasoning to Saul was that David had: put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel. Saul must have realized at this time his slaying of David would be more harmful to his kingdom then slaying the leader of his army. So Saul welcome David back in his presence as in times past. David probably welcome this return to the court of Saul, since he had probably created many friendships during his time in Saul’s court. Also he could return home to his new bride Michal, Saul’s daughter.

Distractions

Trying to fit in time to study God’s Word in today’s busy life style can be a challenge. This can be true for a new believer. As I was pulling out one of my first Bibles, yes I have saved them for over fifty-five years, I was looking at some notes I had taken as a young teenager. In Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” I placed a note in my Bible that read (renewing of your mind comes about when studying God’s Word and let those words fill our mind). As I study David’s life in light of Psalm 119 I realize that in reading I Samuel 18:14 that David behaved himself wisely and in all his ways and the Lord was with him; that David must have turned to the scriptures of his day and applied them to his life.

This was not so with Saul. In I Samuel chapter eighteen we have the story of David serving Saul as a military leader. However, the further we get into this chapter the more we see Saul’s angry and hatred for David grow. Instead of looking at David as a friend and a great leader of his army, Saul looked at David as someone who desire to take the kingdom from him. Even when it came time for Saul to give his daughter Merab to David as his wife for defeating Goliath, Saul give her to Adriel the Meholathite as his wife. Saul was hoping that David would be killed in his battles against the Philistines but this did not happen. Not only did Saul not keep God’s word; he also did not keep his own.

Saul’s serves as an example to all mankind what happens when we live our live without God. David serves as an example of those that seek to live a godly life. However, this will only come about with a renewing of the mind. And this renewing only comes about by staying daily in God’s Word. Saul represent those that have turned away from God. The more one chose to live without God the more ungodly they become. Even when they seem to do good, evil is in their heart and they usually have a hidden agenda. We see this in the way that Saul behaved around David.

So, as I close this old Bible on mine, I must remember that transformation only comes about with a renewing of the mind, and this renewal must be grounded in God’s word.

I Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as much as his own soul.

David’s relationship with Jonathan was a very complicated one for Jonathan. After David defeated Goliath he moved his residence to become part (and a leader) of Saul’s army. David was probably around twenty years old at this time. David probably spent his next ten to thirteen years in the court of Saul. Jonathan’s relationship with David grew very close during this time since David would be a big part of the activities in Saul’s house. This relationship between Jonathan and David became a major conflict with Jonathan’s relationship with his father Saul.

In I Samuel 14:10 “But if they say “come on up” then we will will go up because this will be our sign that God has delivered them into our hands.” we get a glimpse of Jonathan’s faith in God. In this early battle of his career Jonathan and his armour bearer kill about twenty Philistines. This was battle also set the stage for the conflict that Jonathan would face with Saul and his poor decisions in the future. It also shows that as a young man he placed his trust in the hands of the Lord to open and close doors.

As I study Jonathan’s life and his relationship with David I see someone who trusted in the Lord. Jonathan saw how the Lord’s hand was upon David and he also saw the fear that this placed upon his father. Jonathan is one of the characters that God has given us to understand how we must take a stand even when it hurts our relationship with our love ones.

Jonathan stand against his father and his desire to get his father to see and understand that David’s true motives farther split their relationship. Jonathan probably understood that David was to be the next king. He understood this and his desire was to support the future king and yet at the same time serve the current king (his father Saul). This lead up to a disappointing relationship with his father to the point it even made Jonathan a friend of the Saul’s rival which probably weigh heavy on Jonathan’s emotional life. Jonathan’s example can help us understand Jesus prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed “not my will, but thine will be done”.

Jonathan serves as an example of someone in David’s life who understood how to surrender his will to God’s will not his will. In today’s world were everyone wants their way and it all about me and my glory Jonathan’s example serve how a Christian should surrender to God’s will. Having to surrender to God’s will can be a difficult decision; however afterward you will realize a peace beyond understanding in your life. Seeking God’s will and not your will is difficult and will only come about with much prayer and studying His Word. Does your love for Christ measure up to Jonathan’s love for David. Jonathan accepted David as king in his life. Do you accept Christ as king in your life?

I Samuel 17:10 “And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”

This verse set the stage for the story that we know as David and Goliath. As I reflect upon this battle, this fight between a giant and a young man, I recall the words that Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” David fought against Goliath not for Israel, but because Goliath defied the name of God of the armies of Israel and the Lord of hosts. We are in the same battle today with everything around us that defies the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. David went into battle with the armor and weapons that God had prepared him with for this battle; and we as believers must fight our Goliath with the armor and weapons that God has given us.

David approached Goliath without any fear and once Goliath fell the battle changed with the Philistine army now running away in fear. The army of Israel and Judah arose and pursued the Philistine’s army all the way to the gates of their city. David not only defeated Goliath but he inspired the army of Israel to battle. This battle between David and Goliath was a turning point in David’s life. From this point on he is no longer a shepherd, but a warrior. Not only a warrior, but a man over the men of war in Saul’s army. And yet before all of this Saul really did not know much about David. Yes, he played in his court and was Saul’s armor bearer. Saul even know him enough to love him greatly. Yet he did not know much about his family or his life as a shepherd.

David’s victory over Goliath was also a win for his family. David would no longer be a shepherd for his father, but instead made his father’s house free from taxes, and other obligations to King Saul. The other part of this victory entitled him to great riches as well as Saul’s daughter in marriage. However, these promises might not have materialized. We know that David did not marry Saul’s oldest daughter Merab, but was given his daughter Michal for the price of hundred (David give two hundred) foreskins of Philistine warriors. In I Samuel 22:3 we are told that David took his father and mother to Moab probably to protect them from Saul. This was early in his journey of running from Saul. These examples provide examples of how Saul ruled his kingdom. It was not God’s kingdom, but Saul’s kingdom.

In I Samuel 17:25 Saul was to reward the man who killed Goliath with riches, his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. As I study David’s life these promises were not kept. David’s defeating Goliath was a great victory for Israel and David at the time it happened. However, as time moved forward this became a past victory in David’s career but started a source of troubling issues for Saul. The woman of Israel would sing praise after for David after his battles against the Philistines lifting him up as a greater warrior than Saul. This cause Saul to become extremely jealous of David. What more could they ascribe to David? Perhaps the Kingdom. This victory over Goliath set the stage for David to fight another battle. This battle was a lot more difficult and would develop David into a man after God’s own heart.

Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem. The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers. Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them. For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. (I Samuel 17:12-19 NASB)

These verses again shows how God opens the door for David. In these verses we see a father sending his youngest son to the battle front to take care of the needs of his older brothers and to bring back news on their welfare to his father. Jesse is picture here as an elder of Israel, one advance in years, and a father concerned about the welfare of his sons. He sends provisions for his three oldest sons as well as ten cuts of cheese to the commander of the thousand over his brothers. We also see from these verses that David who was in Saul’s service had went back home to help out with his father’s flock. These verses also reveal that no one, including Saul, David’s three brothers, Saul’s commanders or his own sons were willing to fight Goliath. Also nothing is revealed about the four other sons of Jesse.

The events surrounding David’s decision to fight Goliath reveals how his faith and belief system was different then those around him. First they all fear Goliath, David did not. Next the motivation that Saul presented to the one that would fight Goliath was for money and power, however David’s motivation was to fight against the one that defied the armies of the living God. As I read and study these verses I gain an understanding that our motivation to follow and live in the way of the Lord is so must more important then seeking the rewards that the world has to offer. David probably faced more opposition from his brothers than anyone else as he made his decision to battle Goliath. This opposition shows how much his brother really did not know his brother. He was just the boy that kept the sheep out in the pasture.

When Saul questioned David about his ability to fight Goliath, David gave him pass accounts of how had battle both a bear and a lion who were going after a lamb in his care, and how he rescued the lamb. Since the Lord delivered him from these two foes, He would also deliver him this Philistine. David did not even called Goliath by name; he called him the Philistine.

Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. (I Samuel 17:1-10 KJV)

Goliath the champion of the Philistine took his stand against the Israelites with a challenge to take on any man from Saul’s army. It is interesting that Goliath referred the armies of Israel as “ye servants to Saul”. Saul has probably been the King of Israel for twenty years or more at this time. Samuel the judge that served Israel for forty years before Saul went to Ramah after anointing David. We know from I Samuel 16:2 that he feared Saul after Saul forceful ask Samuel to worship God with him. This was after Saul’s failure of following the Lord’s command to utterly destroy the Amalekites. and the announcement from Samuel that God would take the kingdom of Israel from Saul. With Samuel out of the picture the nation of Israel was no longer referred to as the servants of God but ye servants of Saul.

Verse ten portrays the conditions in Israel at this time as being in dismayed and greatly afraid. Saul was probably between the age of forty-five to fifty years old at this time. It is interesting that Saul could not find a man in his army to face Goliath. As we look at these ten verses we see an enemy that was defeated several years before now leaving the nation of Israel in dismay and afraid. This is what happens when a nation turns away from the way of God. Not only was Israel afraid of the threat from the army of the Philistines they were afraid of one man, the Philistine’s champion.

I Samuel 16:19-22

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.

The Lord opens the door for David to continue his training as the future King of Israel. Like Moses, David needed the solitude of being alone tending the sheep to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. Paul’s also needed this quiet time to grow in the knowledge of understanding God’s way. Soon after his conversion on the road to Damascus Paul had to flee for his life to Arabia. It was only after three years later did he return to Jerusalem (Galatians chapter one). So as we look at this new stage of David’s life we must realize that he entered it with a firm foundation of knowing God’s way. This quiet time of studying God’s Word is a must in a believer’s life.

In these verses David comes into Saul’s court and soon becomes his armourbearer. We see God opening the door for David. David reflects his belief in Psalms 139 on how much he saw God’s hand as always present in his life. David’s early studies of the scriptures of seeing the hand of God’s presence in a person’s life could have been the story of Abraham’s, Joseph’s, or Moses’s life . Here in these verses from I Samuel 16 we see God opening the doors for the God’s chosen king of Israel, a man after God’s our heart. David was probably well verse in the first five books of the book.

As we study the great example of faith we must realize that God usually placed them in situations that tested their faith. From the tree in the garden in the Garden on Eden to the events even in our lives God is testing us and preparing his children for future events. Understanding God’s testing is very difficult. James devotes his first chapter to this question. In verse two of James he states “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”. There should be joy in being tested? He goes on to write that this testing of our faith brings patience, which makes us perfect and complete, and gives us contentment where we lack for nothing. He also gives us the example of the double mind man, the forgetful hearer, and the doer of the work and the results that their faith brings. After reading James one we as believers should understand that there will a testing of our faith.

This is why we must make a quiet time for studying the Word so important in the believer’s life. For the Word is portrayed as the only of weapon that we use in our battle in the evil day (the sword of the spirit) as portray in Ephesians chapter six. So when our faith is challenge, we will be prepared like Christ was during his temptation with the devil to be able to quote and use the power of the scriptures to fight these challenges.

I Kings 15:5 presents David as a man after God’s own heart.

As I have attempted several times in my life to start a study of David’s life I have always been drawn back to I Kings 15:5: “Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” (KJV) These words speak volumes on how God viewed David’s heart and his life. In verse three of this chapter it is said of David as having a perfect heart with the Lord his God. The Hebrew meaning implies not sinless perfection, but a single-minded sincerity to God’s Word.

So as I study David’s life from the almost one thousand references to him in the scriptures this verse will be my starting point. David’s heart was the human reflection of God’s heart to mankind. Even through his life on this earth was over three thousand years ago the words that David penned in the Psalms alone brings comfort to millions everyday. The words written by David are still being used by God every day on this earth. Therefore as I study David’s life it will be in light of how David’s words and actions reveals to me how to be more of a man after God’s own heart.

Understanding the events that happen with the rule of Saul before David was anointed by Samuel to become King (I Samuel 16:12,13) will not only add an extra understanding to David’s life, but will also give insight on the way God works in the daily affairs of a nation. Samuel anointed Saul king because the people of Israel wanted to be like other nations. This was over Samuel’s objectives which was displeasing to him, but he took it to the Lord in prayer. The Lord’s answer to Samuel was to hearken to the voice of the people of Israel and give them a king, because they have rejected Me and did not want God to reign over them. So as part of my study of the life of David I will include the reign of Saul. The reign of Saul is a reflection of rejecting God’s way and the making self the most important issue in one’s life and career. The reign of Saul can serve as an example of a nation under God, but not conducting itself as a nation living in God’s way.

The theocracy rejected

I Samuel 8:9 “Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.” (KJV) The decision of having a king over the nation of Israel so that they could be like the other nations would cost them their children, land, and they themselves would become his servants. And then Samuel warned them that when they would cry out to the Lord in that day He would not answer them. However, the people refused to listen to Samuel’s voice. They wanted a king like all the other nations who would judge them and go before them to fight their battles. This was the setting for the selection of Saul.